Saginaw, Michigan

Located at the base of the inner thumb that is Michigan, Saginaw is trying to revitalize the city after a long slide in population, yet an increase in unemployment. But in addition to a refocus on education, Saginaw is also relying on innovation and clean energy to expedite its comeback. And compared to other mid-sized cities, Saginaw ranks high in patents per employee. Television executive David Strouse, a native of Saginaw, announced a plan a year ago that would reinvest in the core of downtown Saginaw, which would otherwise face potential demolition. In addition, a condominium development — the first major market-rate housing project in the city in decades — recently cleared some final hurdles to begin construction in Old Town.